Have you ever caught yourself saying – or even just thinking: “I don’t really make my resume too specific because I want to get the attention of a wider audienc.e” or maybe, “I can do a lot of things, I’m a jack of all trades.” On the other hand, you could be thinking, “I don’t really have much to put on my resume; I’ve never been in one too long to make any concrete accomplishments.” Well, if any of these thoughts have crossed your mind, STOP! Nice try.

If you are an underachiever, a job-hopper, a nomad, a self-proclaimed jack of all trades (yes, we know, master of none/nothing), or a slacker…you probably have every reason to think it is difficult to create a resume that could land you an interview. But take heart; there’s still hope for you. You can still come up with a resume that can get noticed. Impressing your prospective employer can be a challenge, but you can wow them by considering some of these suggestions.

1. Put the spotlight on Specific. This is where your “jack of all trades” experience doesn’t cut. Job descriptions are written based on a specific business need and employers are seeking to fill those particular requirements. They want to know why you are a strong candidate for the position. They are not interested in everything you are capable of doing; only why your skills are a good match to the job. Your resume should spell out and highlight skills and qualifications ideal for the specific job you are seeking; otherwise, you’d be asking the employer to stretch their imagination and figure out what position you’re interested in.

2. Go with depth not width. Most employers would rather see a candidate who can write some fabulous HTML, rather than someone who can write mediocre Javascript, MySQL; or create so-so programs that have no meat. A candidate that cannot excel in one specialization isn’t of much use. Don’t just blindly make a laundry list of middle-of-the-road skills; write something – one thing that you really excel at – that the company can make use of.

3. Play up your career development. Your career advancement is more than just longevity. The length of your stay in one company doesn’t really mean you’re good. If you’re someone who keeps bouncing from one job to the next, show interim positions; how you started from the bottom and worked your way up to the next level, no matter how meager the position.

4. Demonstrate your productivity. This is especially useful to those who have gaps on their resume. Employers fear that you may be a lazy slacker when they see those gaps. Do something to dispel this image fast! Exhibit how you’ve spent your time productively – in any number of ways. It could be through volunteer work and community service or working part-time.

You can convert red flags into a new way to impress a potential employer. Whatever circumstances you are in, your resume should convey personal initiative, drive for self-improvement and resourcefulness. So, get up and show them you are the better candidate.

Tags: career change, how to write a resume, job, job duties, job history, job history in resume, job hunt, Job Search, job skills, job tips, jobs, new job, Personal Branding, professional, Resume, resume help, resume re-write, resume review, resume tips, resume writing, resumes, top resume tips, write a resume

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 9:36 am and is filed under Applying for a Job, Career Changes, Job Search Tips, Resume, Resume Do's and Don'ts, Resume Help, how to write a resume. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.